SARS2 Outbreak Shuts Beijing Produce Supplier, Hoarding Surges

A warehouse that supplies 70 percent of Beijing's produce shut down following the recent SARS2 outbreak. Consumers are hoarding produce in anticipation of rising prices.

iFeng: 新发地休市，北京蔬菜涨价了？有必要囤菜吗？

The Beijing Xinfadi Market, located just outside the South Fourth Ring Road in Beijing, is the largest "vegetable basket" in the capital. Newly-grown vegetables account for about 70% of the city's total supply, pork accounts for about 10% of the city's total supply, and beef and mutton account for about 3% of the city's total supply.

...On June 13, the reporter visited a number of supermarkets in different areas of Beijing and found that the number of customers buying vegetables increased significantly over the past. Some vegetables were temporarily out of stock, but the overall supply was stable.

...On the afternoon of the 13th, the reporter found in a community supermarket in Xincun Street, Fengtai District, Beijing that the vegetable area was basically empty. Many residents were asking why the vegetables were not sold, and some were discussing to go to other supermarkets. The staff told reporters: "Because it's a weekend, more food is prepared than usual, and the price is the same as usual, but it has been robbed this morning."

...The reporter found in a good fruit and vegetable supermarket in Changping District that some vegetables such as potatoes and cauliflower had been sold out. The clerk told reporters, "Our vegetables are not from the new place of origin, but are directly supplied from the place of origin. I did not expect that the new place will be closed for the market, so some vegetables are not so stocked. There are many more people who come to buy vegetables today, so Vegetables like potatoes are temporarily sold out, but they will be available tomorrow morning."

...A convenient vegetable market in Xicheng District, Beijing, the variety of vegetables is still abundant, and the price is slightly higher than the early morning of the 13th, such as potatoes rose from 2.3 yuan / kg to 3.0 yuan / kg.

The street vendor said that since the morning of the 13th, some citizens have purchased vegetables in large quantities. Her dishes are wholesale from the Yuegezhuang market. Yuegezhuang's vegetable prices and types have not changed significantly this morning, but the impact is expected to be greater tomorrow.


...In addition, Beijing has strengthened the “point-to-point” monitoring and replenishment of the supply of daily necessities in 7 primary wholesale markets, 22 large chain supermarkets, convenience stores, and secondary markets and non-chain stores. The full coverage of supply, replenishment, and monitoring of daily necessities such as meat, vegetables, eggs, and milk in retail stores ensures adequate supply and stable prices.

Wang Hongcun expressed his support for other wholesale markets to increase their cargo adjustment efforts and increase trading venues to ensure the normal supply of daily necessities, especially vegetables and fruits.

At the same time, catering enterprises and government organizations are encouraged to purchase supplies from wholesale markets such as Dayang Road, Yuegezhuang, Shuitun, large chain supermarkets or surrounding community markets during the temporary closure of Xinfadi.

...Li Yanchuan, chairman of the supermarket, told the media that most fruits and vegetables in supermarkets are directly harvested from the place of origin. Therefore, after the new place is closed, it will not have much impact on the supermarkets, and the supermarket stores have made emergency with upstream suppliers. Ready for transfer.

The relevant person in charge of Carrefour said that the fruits and vegetables in the store are mainly produced directly from the origin, and are not affected by the market closure of the new place. At present, the supply of goods is sufficient and the price is stable.

Wumei Group spokesman Xu Lina also said that Wumei pork, beef and mutton, and fresh vegetable commodities are sourced directly from the place of origin. In addition, all Wumart stores have made preparations for all kinds of people's livelihood commodities, anti-epidemic materials and emergency transfers.

Huaguan Supermarket said that pork, beef and mutton, and fresh vegetable products are mainly supplied directly from the origin and directly from the base. It has not been affected by the closure of the new place, and the current stock has increased to 3 times the usual amount. "The frequency of delivery of fresh vegetables and fruits has been temporarily increased from 1 to 2 to 3 times a day, and it can be supplemented as needed to ensure a sufficient inventory of goods in stores."